AI Article Synopsis

  • - A 66-year-old man experienced increasing exertional chest pain, quickly worsening from NYHA class 2 to class 3, prompting medical investigation despite the lack of a clear trigger.
  • - ECG results indicated changes typical of Wellens' syndrome, usually linked to serious left anterior descending artery blockages, yet initial checks showed no significant atherosclerosis.
  • - Advanced imaging techniques, including coronary angiography and cardiac CT, identified a severe myocardial bridge in the LAD artery, highlighting the need to consider congenital anomalies in cardiac diagnosis and the importance of early recognition for effective treatment.

Article Abstract

This case report describes a 66-year-old male with a three-month history of exertional chest pain that progressed from New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 2 to class 3 within one week, raising clinical concerns despite an unclear trigger. ECG findings showed biphasic T waves in leads V2 and V3 and T-wave inversions in leads V4 to V6, resembling the pattern seen in Wellens' syndrome, which typically suggests critical left anterior descending (LAD) artery stenosis. However, initial assessments showed no significant atherosclerosis - a notable finding given the usual association of Wellens' syndrome with atherosclerotic disease and its rarity in congenital anomalies. Coronary angiography and cardiac CT imaging revealed a severe myocardial bridge in the mid to distal LAD artery, leading to complete occlusion with preserved blood flow through a diagonal branch. These imaging modalities were essential for confirming the diagnosis by clearly depicting the extent of myocardial bridging and collateral circulation. This case underscores the importance of considering congenital anomalies, such as myocardial bridging, in the differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, even when atherosclerosis is absent. Early recognition of these abnormalities is vital to ensure appropriate intervention and to prevent misdiagnosis.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11624046PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.73123DOI Listing

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